Classic Starts®: Anne of Avonlea

By L. M. Montgomery, Dan Andreasen and Arthur Pober

Now every child can celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s ever-popular story! First introduced in Anne of Green Gables as a young orphan, Montgomery’s feisty and imaginative heroine is now 16 years old and embarking on a new adventure: becoming a teacher in her old Avonlea school. It’s an exciting year as Anne struggles to win over all her students, welcomes two new members to her family, and feels the first stirrings of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Union Square Kids
• Release date: Dec 7, 2010
• ISBN: 9781402787201

L. M. Montgomery

L.M. Montgomery (1874-1942), born Lucy Maud Montgomery, was a Canadian author who worked as a journalist and teacher before embarking on a successful writing career. She’s best known for a series of novels centering a red-haired orphan called Anne Shirley. The first book titled Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908 and was a critical and commercial success. It was followed by the sequel Anne of Avonlea (1909) solidifying Montgomery’s place as a prominent literary fixture.

Book preview

9781402787201_0002_001

Anne

of Avonlea

9781402787201_0002_002

Retold from the Lucy Maud Montgomery

original by Kathleen Olmstead

Illustrated by Dan Andreasen

9781402787201_0002_003

STERLING and the distinctive Sterling logo

are registered trademarks of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Olmstead, Kathleen.

   Anne of Avonlea / retold from the Lucy Mead Montgomery original ; abridged by Kathleen Olmstead ; illustrated by Dan Andreasen.

       p. cm.— (Classic starts)

   Summary: An abridged version of the tale of Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, who comes to live on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.

   ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-5424-1

   ISBN-10: 1-4027-5424-8

[1. Orphans—Fiction. 2. Friendship—Fiction. 3. Islands—Fiction. 4. Country life—Prince Edward Island—Fiction. 5. Prince Edward Island—History—20th century—Fiction. 6. Canada—History—1867–1914—Fiction.] I. Andreasen, Dan, ill. II. Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874–1942. Anne of Green Gables. III. Title.

PZ7.O499An 2009

[Fic]—dc22

2008001965

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016

Text copyright © 2009 by Kathleen Olmstead

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Dan Andreasen

Distributed in Canada by Sterling Publishing

1 Canadian Manda Group, 165 Dufferin Street,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6K 3H6

Distributed in the United Kingdom by GMC Distribution Services,

Castle Place, 166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, England BN7 1XU

Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

P.O. Box 704, Windsor, NSW 2756, Australia

Classic Starts is a trademark of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Printed in China

All rights reserved

Sterling ISBN 978-1-4027-5424-1

For information about custom editions, special sales, premium and

corporate purchases, please contact Sterling Special Sales

Department at 800-805-5489 or [e-mail].

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER 1 :

An Irate Neighbor

CHAPTER 2 :

Dolly Escapes Again

CHAPTER 3 :

Mr. Harrison at Home

CHAPTER 4 :

A New Life as a Teacher

CHAPTER 5 :

Anne and Gilbert Make Plans

CHAPTER 6 :

Marilla Arrives with Twins

CHAPTER 7 :

The Community Hall Disaster

CHAPTER 8 :

A Golden Picnic

CHAPTER 9 :

The Beginning of Vacation

CHAPTER 10 :

A Chapter of Accidents

CHAPTER 11 :

An Adventure on the Tory Road

CHAPTER 12 :

Teatime with Paul Irving

CHAPTER 13 :

The Way It Often Happens

CHAPTER 14 :

Sweet Miss Lavender Lewis

CHAPTER 15 :

Miss Lavender Lewis’s Lost Love

CHAPTER 16 :

The Big Storm

CHAPTER 17 :

Around Another Bend

CHAPTER 18 :

The Prince Comes Back

CHAPTER 19 :

Poetry and Prose

What Do You Think?

Afterword

Classic Starts Library

CHAPTER 1

An Irate Neighbor

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It was a warm, sunny day in August. A light breeze was blowing, and there was not a cloud in the sky. A slim sixteen-year-old girl with serious gray eyes and long auburn hair was sitting on the front steps of a farmhouse on Prince Edward Island.

Anne Shirley was reading a book of poetry. She had been saving the book for a sunny day, but now that she was enjoying the lovely breeze and the poppies blowing in the yard, she lost all interest in it. This was a day better suited for dreams.

The heavy book of poetry fell to her feet as Anne’s mind wandered to the new school year. She was about to start her new job as the teacher at Avonlea School.

She imagined a time in the future—forty years or so—when a former student would return for a visit. In her dream, Anne could not decide if this student would be a college president or a member of the Canadian Senate. She only knew that he would be very successful. He would return to Avonlea to thank his old teacher and tell her that he never would have been so successful if it weren’t for her devotion and hard work.

Suddenly Anne’s pleasant dream was disturbed by a Jersey cow trotting into the yard. Immediately following the cow was Mr. Harrison. He was their new next-door neighbor. Anne had never met him, although she had seen him a few times. Actually, very few people had met Mr. Harrison, even after several months in Avonlea. Those who did know him called him a crank.

Mr. Harrison burst into the yard and stomped toward Anne. What is the meaning of this?

Excuse me? Anne said, standing up and placing her hands on her hips.

Anne had already heard stories about Mr. Harrison. Mrs. Lynde had visited his house and said it was a mess. He only washed his dishes on rainy days. He never swept the floor. He ate his meals at strange times. Then, to top it all off, he had a pet parrot. No one in Avonlea had ever had a pet parrot before!

I’m sorry, Mr. Harrison, Anne said sharply. Unfortunately, Anne had quite a temper, and she thought he was very rude for bursting into her yard without even a hello. I don’t understand what you are talking about.

That cow! He pointed to the cow still standing in the front yard. This is the third time I found your Jersey cow in my oats! Where is your aunt? I want to speak to her right away.

If you mean Miss Marilla Cuthbert, Anne said sternly, she is not my aunt. She and her brother, Matthew, were kind enough to take me in from an orphanage when I was young. And, no, Miss Cuthbert is not at home. She is visiting a sick relative.

Then who will deal with this cow? Mr. Harrison shouted. She’s eating all my oats!

I will deal with the cow, Anne said. "She belongs to me, not Miss Cuthbert. And I think this problem might be solved if you took better care